Detachable can spout



NOV. 17, 1936. R. N` DlcKEY DETACHABLE C AN SPOUT Filed July 30, 1934 IN'VENTOR HOY /V. D/c/(EY *j of @www ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DETACHABLE CAN SPOUT tion of Washington Application July 30, 1934, Serial No. 737,519

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in pouring spouts for cans and it has reference more particularly to spouts of that character y adapted to be temporarily applied to a can by puncturing an end wall thereof and which are intended to be removed, when the can is emptied, for use on other cans; it being the principal object of the invention to impro-ve upon spouts of that general character as heretofore used, particularly in certain details of construction which will insure a tight, nonleaking connection of the spout, when applied to the can wall, which permits of an easy application of the device to the can and without requiring use of any special driving means; which provides for closing the pouring outlet of the spout when the can to which it is applied is set away and which provides for maintaining it in a clean and sanitary condition.

Another object of the invention is to so oonstruct the device that it may be readily disassembled for cleaning when such is desirable.

Still another objectkresides in the provision of a pouring spout that is movable to different positions thereby to serve, in one position, as a spout and in another position as a closure; also, to provide for inverting the spout on the device thereby to prevent collection of dust or dirt therein when the can to which it is applied is stored away or placed in an exposed location.

Further objects of the invention reside in the details of construction and in the combination of parts embodied in the device and in their mode of use, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Fig. 1 is a perspective View illustrating the application and use of a pouring spout, embodied by the present invention, in connection with a can.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional View of the spout, as seen in the plane of its axial line.

Fig. 3 is a side View of the spout as applied to a can wall.

Fig. 4 is another side view particularly illustrating the anchoring shoulders of the shank portion.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6-6 in Fig. 4.

Referring more in detail to the drawingvIn Fig. 1, I designates, in its entirety, a pouring spout made in accordance with the present invention, and applied to the end wall 2 of a can or container 3.

In a preferred form of construction, the spout comprises a cylindrical or tubular Lipper body portion 4 that is closed at its top end by a at, integral Wall 5 and is provided at one side with a circular opening 6 through which contents may be poured from the can.

The lower end portion of the cylindrical body 4 is projected into the upper end portion of a cylindrical mounting shank 1; the shank having its upper end portion diametrically enlarged thus providing an annular encircling shoulder 8 lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of lthe device and against which the lower end of the body 4 is tightened. A collar 9 is tted about the enlarged upper end of the shank, and this has its lower edge portion inwardly crimped, as at I0, to lock beneath the shoulder 8. The collar also extends beyond or above the upper end of the shank 'I to receive the lower end portion of the body 4, which has a threaded connection therewith, as indicated at II.

The inturned, or crimped, lower edge I0 of the collar 9 forms a downwardly facing shoulder about the shank and a sealing gasket I2 of rubber, or other suitable materiahencircles the spout and seats against this shoulder, as a joint sealing medium when the device is applied to a can.

The shank portion 'I is provided at opposite sides with recesses I3 of inverted V-shape from the lower end upwardly. The vertices of the recesses are diametrically opposite and are spaced somewhat below the plane of the gasket. 'Ihe two recesses divide the shank into two oppositely disposed and downwardly tapered piercing portions terminating in sharpened points I4-I4 which are adapted to be pressed through the can end wall for applying the spout to the can.

At opposite sides of the shank and relatively close to the gasket are outwardly formed portions I5-I 5 forming at their upper ends upwardly facing shoulders Iii-I6. The top surfaces of these shoulders are somewhat spirally inclined so that they may serve in the manner of screw threads whereby axial rotation of the spout after being applied, will cause them to engage the can wall about the opening made by the piercing points and shank to tighten the gasket against the top surface of the wall in a non-leaking joint.

It is also observed by reference to Fig. 4 that the opposite side surfaces of the shank are gradually outwardly formed from the points I4| 4 into the shoulders so that there will be no abrupt abutment that would interfere with seating the spout in place. This formation, as viewed in Fig. 6, causes the spout to have a somewhat oval form in the cross plane of the shoulder lli-I6.

For purposes of economy of manufacture, the shank, as herein shown, is made in opposite side sections, each of semi-cylindrical form and each provding one of the piercing points. sections are fitted together along closed joints, as at I8, and are held securely in place by the collar 9 applied thereto. Toinsure against rust or discoloration, the device might be made of stain- 'y less steel, or the like.

Fitted about the upper body portion 4 is a sleeve 20 which is rotatably mounted on the body but frictionally grips it in a manner to hold the sleeve against displacement. The sleeve, at one side is formed with a spout 22 which, by rotative adjustment of the sleeve, may be moved into registration with the pouring opening 6 of the body. The sleeve also may be rotatably adjusted to tightly cover the opening 6. It is also intended that the sleeve maybe inverted, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 so that the spout will open downwardly and not-catch and retain dust or dirt therein when the can, to which it is applied, is set away in an exposed location.

The sleeve 20, when applied to the body, seats at its lower edge against an annular upwardly facing shoulder 23 formed just above the threaded portion and substantially flush with the top edge of the collar 9. The length of the sleeve is such that its top edge is slightly below the upper end of the body 4 and will not receive the impact or pressure applied to the wall 5 in driving the piercing points |4-l4 through a can end wall.

Assuming the parts to be so constructed and assembled as described, the device is applied to a,

is driven down through the wall. This causes a circular portion of tin to be cut from the canV wall and the tin at opposite sides of the opening to be curled slightly downward, as at 25, by reason of the outward formations in the shank extending longitudinally upward from the piercing points and terminating with the shoulder lli-I6. As the gasket seats tightly against the can end wall, the down-curled portions of metal 25, snap back of the shoulders l 6I6 and thereby lock the spout in place. If any additional locking is desired, this may be obtained byrotation of the spout to locate the shoulders at the dotted line positions, shown in Fig. 6.

The device, as thus applied, will serve as a convenient and practical spout for pouring contents from the can. Rotation of the spout sleeve These two 20 to locate the spout portion thereof out of line with opening 6, closes the opening against entrance of insects, dust, or other foreign substances.

Devices of this kind are subject to modification in size and proportions without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the body 4 and shank 1 might be an integral piece, but is here shown in separable parts to permit easy cleaning and to lessen cost of manufacture.

The special advantages to be gained in this particular form of device reside in the fact that a blow of the hand, or direct pressure, may be applied thereagainst for applying the device; the piercing points cut out a circular opening and the vmetal at opposite sides of the opening will be curled downwardly, by reason of the formation leading into the shoulders, and will then spring inwardly to seat ben-eath the shoulders to lock the device in place and clamp the gasket tightly against the can wall.

Other advantages reside in the fact that the device is easily and readily disassembled for cleaning and may be kept sanitary. v

Such devices may be used indenitely land are applicable to many uses.

Having thus vdescribed my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. A pouring spout of the character described, comprising a tubular body closed at its outer end and formed with a lateral opening below the closed end and formed at its inner end with a shank terminating in piercing points adapted to be pressed through a can wall and to sever a portion of the can wall to pro-vide an opening for the device; `saidbody being formed with an annular downwardly facing shoulder for seating against the can wall about the wall opening; said shank having outwardly formed portions terminating in upwardly facing shoulders spaced be-v low the annular shoulder to engage the wall about the opening in opposed relation to therstmentioned shoulder to retain the device against displacement; and a sleeve movably fitted about the tubular body to cover the said lateral opening and formed with a spout adapted to be moved by movement of the sleeve into and from registration with the lateral opening. A

2; In a pouring spout of the character described, a cylindrical body adapted to be applied to a can wall to receive contents from the can; said body being closed at its outer end and provided with a lateral opening, and a sleeve frictionally tted to said body and having an'upwardly opening spout adapted to be moved into and from registration with the opening by rotary adjustment of the sleeve; said sleeve being open at each end and removable from the body and adapted to be applied in van linverted position thereon as a closure for the opening. 

